General Theme: “…He saw this large crowd and his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34) General Objective: - to see God present and working in the different realities of the people. - to live our dedication as a Verbum Dei Missionary Family in our different realities. - to let God transform us into missionaries for the world. Objective of the week: To learn to believe and trust what the Lord can do if we place everything in His hands.
INTRODUCTION
Last week we have been introduced to how the Lord is actively present in the whole of humanity. He is constantly reaching out to us and touching different realities each one is living. And not only that. He does this in order to bring transformation to our lives and the realities we face in the world. This week, we look and learn from Jesus how he reaches out to concrete people in their realities in order to bring transformation. The transformation happens in Jesus and starts from us when we trust and place everything in his hands. …The living encounter, close and intimate with the person of Christ in the Eucharist, transforms our days in prolonged echoes of the living word that we have heard from his mouth. In this way, the VDMFa, nourished by the Eucharistic Bread, makes all people brothers and sisters, creating in this way a universal family… (Statutes of the VDMFa 30) In front of the realities we live and the realities we see in the world, Jesus teaches us a different perspective. As we remember in the multiplication of the loaves, Jesus, looking at the crowds, teaches us a different perspective. An impossible situation becomes possible with Him. He makes it possible for us to feed the 5 thousand. He opens possibilities for us to live out the mission. Let us learn how to believe and trust Him by placing everything in His hands so that transformation can happen. MONDAY Jesus touches the reality of our hunger and thirst. John 4:7-15 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, 'Give me something to drink.' 8 His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, 'You are a Jew. How is it that you ask me, a Samaritan, for something to drink?' -- Jews, of course, do not associate with Samaritans. 10 Jesus replied to her: If you only knew what God is offering and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me something to drink,' you would have been the one to ask, and he would have given you living water. 11 'You have no bucket, sir,' she answered, 'and the well is deep: how do you get this living water? 12 Are you a greater man than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself with his sons and his cattle?' 13 Jesus replied: Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again; 14 but no one who drinks the water that I shall give will ever be thirsty again: the water that I shall give will become a spring of water within, welling up for eternal life. 15 'Sir,' said the woman, 'give me some of that water, so that I may never be thirsty or come here again to draw water.' Jesus shows us that we will never have to squeeze ourselves or desperately run trying to accumulate worldly happiness to fill us up. From us will flow the source and spring of life and happiness. TUESDAY Learn to trust and place everything in His hands. Mark 12:41-44 41 He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many of the rich put in a great deal. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, 'In truth I tell you, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; 44 for they have all put in money they could spare, but she in her poverty has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.' John 4:15-16 15 'Sir,' said the woman, 'give me some of that water, so that I may never be thirsty or come here again to draw water.' 16 'Go and call your husband,' said Jesus to her, 'and come back here.' 1 Corinthians 3:7 7 In this, neither the planter nor the waterer counts for anything; only God, who gives growth. Do you trust what I can do to you if you place everything in my hands? Place everything in my hands including the ‘husbands’ that you still keep and live with. WEDNESDAY The encounter that transforms Luke 9:16-17 16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven, and said the blessing over them; then he broke them and handed them to his disciples to distribute among the crowd. 17 They all ate as much as they wanted, and when the scraps left over were collected they filled twelve baskets. John 4:25-30 25 The woman said to him, 'I know that Messiah -- that is, Christ -- is coming; and when he comes he will explain everything.' 26 Jesus said, 'That is who I am, I who speak to you.' …28 The woman put down her water jar and hurried back to the town to tell the people, 29 'Come and see a man who has told me everything I have done; could this be the Christ?' 30 This brought people out of the town and they made their way towards him. …The living encounter, close and intimate with the person of Christ in the Eucharist, transforms our days in prolonged echoes of the living word that we have heard from his mouth… (Statutes of the VDMFa 30) What transforms us to become missionaries? What transforms so many realities of people and of the world? It is the relationship with Jesus. An encounter that brings transformation. Defend and seek always for this relationship. THURSDAY Jesus expands your life. Don’t put limits to Him. Isaiah 49:6 I shall make you a light to the nations so that my salvation may reach the remotest parts of earth.' 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 6 But remember: anyone who sows sparsely will reap sparsely as well -- and anyone who sows generously will reap generously as well. 7 Each one should give as much as he has decided on his own initiative, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. What are the seeds that we are sowing as Verbum Dei? We are sowing the Word of God and the planting is doing our specific mission of the ministry of the Word. Do I limit my sowing? God desires to do great things and wonders with our life. We are reminded that we cannot grow if we put limits to Him. FRIDAY Do this all of you. …This action reaches us today: it is the “doing” of the Eucharist which always has Jesus as its subject, but which is made real through our poor hands anointed by the Holy Spirit. …From the outset it is the Eucharist which becomes the centre and pattern of the life of the Church. But we think also of all the saints – famous or anonymous – who have “broken” themselves, their own life, in order to “give something to eat” to their brothers and sisters. How many mothers, how many fathers, together with the slices of bread they provide each day on the tables of their homes, have broken their hearts to let their children grow, and grow well! How many Christians, as responsible citizens, have broken their own lives to defend the dignity of all, especially the poorest, the marginalized and those discriminated! Where do they find the strength to do this? It is in the Eucharist: in the power of the Risen Lord’s love, who today too breaks bread for us and repeats: “Do this in remembrance of me”. (Homily of Pope Francis for Corpus Christi) 2 Corinthians 9:8 8 God is perfectly able to enrich you with every grace, so that you always have enough for every conceivable need, and your resources overflow in all kinds of good work. Luke 6:38 38 Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap; We are hesitant many times to give ourselves because we think of the so many things we will lose. Yes, we will experience being broken up in order to give life, but God will not take anything away from us; instead we will be given more than enough. SATURDAY Producing fruits of gratitude to God 2 Corinthians 9:10-13 10 The one who so freely provides seed for the sower and food to eat will provide you with ample store of seed for sowing and make the harvest of your uprightness a bigger one: 11 you will be rich enough in every way for every kind of generosity that makes people thank God for what we have done. 12 For the help provided by this contribution not only satisfies the needs of God's holy people, but also overflows into widespread thanksgiving to God; 13 because when you have proved your quality by this help, they will give glory to God for the obedience which you show in professing the gospel of Christ, as well as for the generosity of your fellowship towards them and towards all. Matthew 5:16 16 In the same way your light must shine in people's sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven. May our good works and our mission as a Verbum Dei Family bring gratitude and praise to God always. SUNDAY 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 32 2nd Reading: Galatians 2:16, 19-21 Gospel: Luke 7:36 - 8:3 Comments are closed.
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